A/N: This hasn't really been a good day. The only good thing was the Giants winning the Super Bowl. But, here I am on a Sunday!
Well, this is it, the last chapter of the story! I seriously just have to thank everyone who stuck through this with me and I really hope you all join me in part two, Chaos of the Past. More fun adventures with JC and the Nerd Herd along with some new people at the Isle of Skye. Which just reminds me that my SYOC is still open and I still need a few people to fill in some spots. That'll be closing relatively soon because it has to. So I need those submits!
Now, without further ado, the last chapter of Spirit Revived! Please read, review, and enjoy...and seriously, thanks again to all of you for sticking through this!
Disclaimer: I don't own House of Night, but I own the full, completed version of Spirit Revived, the plotline, and any character you don't recognize (that's so awesome to say!) The ritual song is called 'The Swan Song' by Within Temptation. Don't own that either, but it's really pretty, check it out.
JC's POV
I was actually quite thankful it was lunch hour, because we had to have been a strange sight. Dragon was literally carrying me bridal style through the school grounds, and I was half dead. I tried about half way to get him to let me walk myself…but that didn't go over too well with the Swords Master. Apparently when I'm still pale as hell and shaking (something I didn't notice until Dragon pointed it out), standing and walking isn't a good idea to try. I could accept the logic in that.
When we got to the infirmary, I finally convinced him to put me down. After stumbling and nearly winding up on my ass again (something I should have expected), I resigned to leaning against him and waiting for Helena to come up front and see us. She'd be so happy to see me again! Okay, that was a lie…and I did actually feel bad for what I had probably put that woman through the past couple of days.
"Oh, Dragon, JC!" the nurse exclaimed the moment she saw us and quickly took me from Dragon, carefully ushering me to one of the rooms. The Swords Master did follow behind us, which kind of surprised me. "What happened?" Helena asked.
I looked up to her and gave a weak, sheepish grin. "I may have over-extended my affinity and may have made myself suffer from some, horrible type of exhaustion," I answered. I trusted Helena, I had since I was first here and she stood up for me and Zoey against Neferet. I had no issue giving her the basic idea of what happened to me.
The nurse let out a grunt and rolled her eyes. "I swear, you are the most reckless fledgling I have ever met, and I've only known you for a few days," Helena grumbled as she helped me up onto the table. I didn't say anything as she started looking me over (eyes, mouth, heart rate, all that good stuff), I just kept that small, stupid grin on my face.
"You shouldn't be happy about this," she said once she was done with that and looking at my hand, "especially if you want to get to Skye tonight on a plane, you need to be in better health. I'm going to change your bandages and get you something to hopefully revive your energy. Don't get hurt while I'm gone," she warned and disappeared out of the room.
The sad part was that, if Dragon wasn't in the room, I probably would have hurt myself. But, the professor in question was, oddly enough, still in the room with me, sitting in one of the chairs. I sighed and rubbed at my eye before looking over to him, "why don't you go to lunch like everyone else?" I asked.
"I want to make sure you will be alright," he answered simply.
"I'll be fine…I've been through this and things like this more times than I'd care to admit to," I laughed a bit. And that was true, having the grace of a bull in a china shop often wound me up in the hospital or the nurse's office or whatever. Exhaustion, though not to this degree, was a common occurrence as well, "seriously, go, it's fine…I'll be okay. Helena knows how to deal with me and what to do by now."
Dragon sighed and shook his head, "what you did in my office with Anastasia was nothing short of a miracle. The least I owe you is this."
"What happened with Anastasia was me doing the right thing with my Goddess given gift. You owe me nothing."
"JC, you brought my wife back to me," he said quietly.
"And you're still in shock from it," I stated, "and I am seriously just as surprised as you that it worked and I was able to do so, consequences to my body aside. But I didn't bring anyone back, I let you see her as a ghost and now she's gone to rest in the Otherworld. In a way I'd think that was worse," I explained. No, I could not add to my list of affinities necromancy.
"It's better, a thousand times better to know that she is in peace with everything in the Otherworld. That was all I needed I guess, was to know that she was alright with everything," Dragon responded.
I looked over him for a moment. He looked different than when I first met him, and it was a good thing. He was more relaxed, calmer, more at peace…and most importantly, there was no Darkness in sight. "It must be nice to have that love and to know that you can be in peace," I commented.
"More than you can imagine. It's something you can only, truly understand when you have experienced it."
I only nodded in response and turned back to the door as Helena came back in, carrying a few things. She set one of them, a bag of blood, beside me then went to get the rest of her supplies presumably to rewrap my hand.
I looked at the blood bag and poked at it just to make sure that I wasn't seeing things. Nope, it was there. "Um…?"
"It's a bag of blood," Helena answered my unasked question, coming back over and cutting the wrappings from my hand.
"Well thank you," I muttered and rolled my eyes, "I was more leaning to the question as to why?"
"It'll help immensely with the exhaustion issue," she responded.
"Like an infusion?" I asked. I really wasn't that bad was I? "I hope it's A- then…"
"You're going to drink it," Helena stated and looked at me like I was crazy.
In hindsight…that made a lot more sense, I was a vampyre after all. But still, that was kinda weird. "I haven't experienced bloodlust yet," I told her.
"I would have figured that you have," Helena admitted, "still, it will help." And she went back to rewrapping my hand.
Alright then. I took the packet and tore off a corner at the top. The liquid swished a little bit and I bit my lip, this was rather gross admittedly…but if it would help me then I guess I had to. "Cheers," I muttered and downed the bag. It didn't taste bad per se, but it wasn't the best thing ever. It was kind of like drinking water, a thick, warm, red colored water that also had magical abilities because I almost instantly felt better.
"Whoa," I muttered and shook my head, "that stuff is strong and fast acting. Damn," I chuckled and boy did I ever feel better. This warmth spread through me and I felt the lost energy come back to me.
"See," Helena smirked a bit and set my hand down, newly wrapped in clean, white bandages, "the taste and all of that should get better as you get older. But it works for exhaustion and for healing quite well. You're going to be starting fifth hour soon, are you gonna be alright to go back to class?" she asked.
I would have answered yes either way, and I think both the nurse and Dragon knew that, but I was genuinely feeling better. I nodded and hopped off the little cot, "I feel great, I should be alright. I'm not even hungry," I answered. I really, really liked the ability to heal from blood.
"Good. Just, I beg of you, please be careful and don't hurt yourself anymore…you've got half a day left before you're off to Skye…I'd like to see you off in mostly one piece," Helena told me as Dragon and I went to the door.
I looked back at her and smiled, "I'll try, but no promises. Thanks again Helena," I called as we left.
"Helena is right, you know," Dragon said once we were outside and going back to classes. The gym was relatively close to where I was going, so it worked. "You should be more careful of what you do around here."
I let out a suffering sigh and nodded. "I know I should, but being launched into all of this isn't exactly the best situation. I have to learn fast about what and who I am if I want to survive, and if that means pushing myself to the very limits at times, then so be it. It will be worth it so long as I get to see all of us to the other side of this war, the side with Light prevailing," I responded truthfully. That idea and that conviction had only be growing more and more in me as the days went on of me being around Neferet and the House of Night.
We had come to our separating point and Dragon looked at me with a smile. "You're a lot like her, you know. Anastasia believed in the same thing, I just don't want to see you come to the same ending…" he trailed off.
I smiled a bit, "Dragon, if there's one thing I'll promise you, it's that this battle will not kill me," I said. I just wished that I could be sure of that statement.
He nodded once, "very well. I'll see you tonight for the ceremonies then, Priestess," Dragon nodded and walked off. I couldn't help but to blush the slightest bit, the Swords Master had acknowledged me as a High Priestess. I had earned his respect, and that was a good thing, a really good thing.
I walked into Spanish, once again the first one there, and took the seat in the back that was slowly becoming mine. I let out a sigh and looked at my wrapped up hand a moment before setting it on the table and looking around. My mind started to wander about what happened in the past few days, keeping me occupied until other students started filing in.
"JC! There you are!" Zo exclaimed as she and Stark came in and sat by me, "where were you? You never showed up for lunch."
"Yeah, I was in the nurse's office. I kinda exhausted myself by overusing my powers helping Dragon and Anastasia," I explained quietly.
"Dragon and Anastasia? What did you do?" my cousin pressed.
I looked up and around at the others in the room and felt my stomach drop. I got the hint. "Not here, not now. I'll explain later with everything else, I promise," I answered and sunk back into my seat as Professor Garmey started teaching.
Nope, still hardly understood Spanish, but at least this class seemed to go faster than the past couple. We were out and on our way to Equestrian Studies pretty quickly, and I was kind of thankful for that. Me and foreign languages just did not get along at all.
Lenobia started class normally and then disappeared into Athena's stall. Confused, I followed after her and was surprised to see her, Indy, and Aphrodite and Rephaim. "Um, interesting place to have a meeting?" I asked, walking in and shutting the stall door.
"Oh good, you are alive. It's not like I didn't think you would be, but Z was freaking during lunch for no reason," Aphrodite announced, but I still noticed she was looking over me subtly.
"It wasn't that big of a deal. I just had to go to see Helena, I had an issue with exhaustion during Fencing," I explained, trying to pass it off as nothing.
"Exhaustion from what?" Daniel asked.
I glanced at him sheepishly, "I may have read chapter 14 in your book and…took care of a problem we were having here."
He raised his eyebrows and looked at me, "you were able to do that so soon?"
"Well…according to my body, no, I'm not supposed to be doing that right now. At least, that's what I'm assuming the exhaustion was in reaction to," I answered and looked around at the others. They all seemed really confused, so I decided to explain, "chapter 14 is in relation to ghosts and their haunting this world and not being in Nyx's Grove. After dying, Anastasia Lankford was here trying to free her heart, which consisted of talking to Dragon and getting him out of the funk he was in. I helped out, and nearly killed myself in the process."
And now everyone but Rephaim was surprised. "She is resting with Nyx in peace now?" he asked and I nodded, "I wish you had told me. I would have liked to express my sorrow for what I did to her."
"She knows, and she has forgiven you. She knew it was from another time in your life," I promised and smiled a bit.
Rephaim returned the smile, "that is reassuring."
"So…wait. Anastasia has been haunting the school sine her death?" Aphrodite asked and I nodded, "that's some fucked up shit right there."
I shrugged, "not really. There's always been reports of ghosts coming back because they have unfinished business. Anastasia's business was Dragon. I also learned not to test my limits for a little while, lest I actually do kill myself. So why are we having a meeting in Athena's stall?" I asked again.
"Daniel wanted to meet with the three of you," Lenobia answered, "just to go over the basics before you're off to Skye."
"Sounds fair," I shrugged and leaned back against the wall, "let's go over the basics."
"Alright," Daniel nodded, "let's start with the very basics. You all know about your affinity for Spirit?" he asked.
"No duh," Aphrodite snorted and rolled her eyes.
I sighed in response to my fledgling (which is still quite weird to think about), "yes, we all know about our affinity for Spirit."
"What about guide animals?" he asked.
Both Rephaim and I turned to Aphrodite and she let out a grumble. "Those two have, I have yet to figure mine out," she admitted.
"But you are the Prophetess I have heard about, are you not?" She nodded as an answer. "Then that's why you don't have a guide animal. Prophets and Prophetesses were almost always Spirit vampyres, but a subspecies if you will. As a Prophetess, you will not get a guide animal because your duties to the Goddess are different. You don't take care of others, meaning you don't take care of Charges, so you don't need a guide animal," Daniel explained.
"Hah, I am normal!" Aphrodite exclaimed with a smug smirk.
"Normal is not the word I was considering," I mumbled under my breath and looked back to Indy, "anything else?"
"With that cleared up, you two know about Charges right?" he asked and looked at me and Rephaim.
We both held up our wrists to show the Marks. "We know how we got them, we've read up on it, and I've already experienced the joy of being sucked into my Charges' bodies…which is not a fun thing to happen," I explained with a shudder. As I said, mentally scarred for life.
"I'm sorry to say, but there isn't much you can do right now. Until you grow into your affinity and with your Charges, that may happen sporadically."
"Joy," I grumbled and crossed my arms, "any more?"
"I think that's all of the basics. The rest you'd be best to learn from Sgiach herself rather than me," Daniel answered, "so long as you know the basics, you will be alright."
I nodded and pushed myself off the wall, "alright then, so is there anything else to talk about for tonight or the trip?" I asked.
"So long as you have gathered everything you need for tonight, then no, there is no reason to discuss anything further," Lenobia decided, "Aphrodite, Rephaim, you may stay if you like. JC, get to work." Yup, I saw that one coming, it still made me chuckle though.
"Yes ma'am," I joked but set to work anyway. It was harder cleaning a stall with an out of commission hand, but I managed to get it done just as the bell rang to dismiss us. I wiped the dirt that had gathered on my hands on my pants and got out of the stall, joining Zoey and everyone else who had stayed.
"We have about 15 minutes until the ceremonies start. It gives us just enough time to get dressed, get your luggage into the car, and get there for the start," Zoey stated as we started walking to where we needed to go, "everyone basically but you is going to the Hummer first to get some more presentable clothes, the girls will meet you in your and Gwen's room and we'll go down together. The guys are doing the same thing pretty much but in the boys' dorm. Dinner is after the ceremonies, we may have time to eat but don't plan on it. So if you're hungry, grab something small from the kitchen in the dorms."
I stared at my cousin for a moment before chuckling, "geeze, planned out much? Sounds good, I'm gonna go warn Gwen about this, see you up there," I agreed and we parted ways.
It wasn't until I got to my room and sat down on my bed did I realize that I probably didn't have anything to wear. Oh well, that problem could be taken care of in a bit, first I had to talk to Gwen. "Hey," I said as I went over to my bed, "everyone is going to be up here in a bit, we need to get ready to go."
"We? Where are we going?" Gwen asked and looked at me in confusion.
"The ceremonies. We need to get dressed and all that stuff," I answered and got up to go through my closet to look for something, with no avail.
"If you're looking for a dress or something like that, Erik didn't pack any," Quinn told me from her bed.
"Great," I grumbled and stopped pawing through my clothes.
"As much as I love rituals, I don't think I can go to the Full Moon Ritual tonight if Neferet's leading it. I'll just say I'm not feeling well or something," she said and shot me another confused look.
"What about the Dark Daughters?"
"I'm not one…so I'm technically not supposed to go," Gwen stated with a shrug.
"I don't care about technicalities at this point, you're going," I said and paused a moment, "and do you have anything for me to wear? Because I've got nothing…"
She sighed and got off her bed, going to her closet and looking through it. After a minute, she threw me a knee-length dress with a silver sash around the waist. "Thanks," I smiled and stopped her when she started walking away, "I wasn't kidding when I said that you're going tonight. You do need to get dressed too."
"But, JC, I'm not-"
"I know you're not," I cut her off, "but I think you deserve to go, and I guarantee that everyone else does too."
Gwen let out another sigh and looked at me with a smile, "you're going to make me go one way or another aren't you?"
"Yup. And everyone else too, so text Maggie, Zane, Harley, and Luke to let them know they're going too. I'll be out of the bathroom in a couple minutes, thanks for the dress," I ordered and went into the bathroom.
"Yes, Priestess!" she called teasingly after me.
I rolled my eyes and quickly got myself into the dress Gwen borrowed me. I was surprised that it fit me well despite the fact I was a good two inches taller than her. It must have been longer on her. I pulled my hair back into a braid and put on a bit of makeup because of the fact that I had huge bags under my eyes and I was still a bit pale from my incident in the gym. Overall, it took me about five minutes and I was out of the bathroom with Gwen waiting for me.
"Everyone knows and are getting ready," she told me and went into the bathroom.
I nodded in approval and went back to my closet, grabbing a pair of black shoes and getting them on my feet. I heard a knock as I was fighting with the second shoe and shouted that it was open. A moment later the group was flooding in, including Maggie and all of the guys.
"Gwen's getting changed then we're ready to go," I told them and stretched out my legs.
"Actually, I'm done, so we're just ready to go," Gwen announced as she came out of the bathroom.
"Luckily, it doesn't take long for you to look good," Maggie teased and gave her a peck on the cheek.
"Alright, we're set to go, so let's do so," I cut in before anyone (Aphrodite) had a chance to comment. And with that we were walking to the giant, broken oak tree (apparently the rituals were outside...I didn't know why).
"So do you have a song for tonight?" Zo asked as I fell in step beside her and Stark.
I nodded, "don't worry about it. I got everything under control, as always," I grinned.
"Are you going to be able to do everything tonight?" she continued.
"You mean the representation? Yeah, I'll be fine, some blood fixed me right up from earlier," I shrugged like it was nothing.
"Can you tell us yet why that happened?" Stark asked.
I glanced up and saw Neferet as we were approaching the tree. "Later," I said again, "away from prying ears."
"Ah, our Dark Daughters and Sons," Neferet exclaimed, almost on cue from what I said, "I know this change is very sudden, but we would like to start tonight with your ritual first. Some of the vampyres representing the elements for our ritual are going to be late," she explained.
I looked at her suspiciously and was about to ask how any vampyre could put whatever it was they were doing above the Goddess, but Zoey kept me from doing so. "Ok, Neferet, that's fine," my cousin said and nodded, "we would like to use your candles for the ritual though."
"But of course," Neferet nodded and went to get them.
"I don't know what she's up to, but stay close and keep your element near you. Let's get into the circle," Z warned and we did as she asked, setting ourselves up in the circle. Neferet went around and gave us the candles we needed, smiling and happy, like a High Priestess would be. Something was up, and that made me nervous as all hell.
"Are you alright?" Damien asked from the east. We were relatively close.
"Just thinking," I answered and looked up. Oh crap, "Z, wait, I have the music too!" I called to her and pulled out my iPod (yes…I stuffed it in my bra. For any girl to say that they have never done that would be a complete and total lie. They're helpful to keep stuff in. It's why we have them in the first place, if you really want to think about it).
"Good, nice remembering," she said and took the iPod, bringing it over to the sound system we had out there and handing it to Luke, who was the closest to it. "Go ahead and play it," I heard her say and the music began.
I allowed the opening notes to wash over me and watched as my cousin started dancing before I began. "Winter has come for me, can't carry on. The chains to my life are strong, but soon they'll be gone, I'll spread my wings one more time. Is it a dream? All the ones I have loved, calling out my name. The sun warms my face. All the days of my life, I see them passing me by," I sang and watched as my cousin twirled and danced perfectly to the rhythm, the skirt of her red bejeweled black dress swirling with her. It was beautiful, as was she, and I could see why these things were so…magickal and wonderful and what not.
"In my heart I know, I can let go. In the end I will find, some peace inside, new wings are growing tonight. Is it a dream? All the ones I have loved, calling out my name. The sun warms my face. All the days of my life, I see them passing me by. As I am soaring, I'm one with the wind. I am longing to see you again it's been so long. We will be together again!" I paused as the music played and watched, transfixed, as Zoey danced to it all. It was like the Goddess was guiding her footsteps, in all likelihood that was what was happening.
"Is it a dream? All the ones I have loved, calling out my name. The sun warms my face. All the days of my life, I see them passing me by," I finished and smiled at her as she wound up standing in front of me. "Well heya," I whispered and smirked.
"Good job," Z smiled back then turned her attention to everyone else. "Hello Dark Daughters and Sons!" she called, her voice carrying over everyone else, "just as with every full moon, we are here tonight to celebrate our Goddess. However, with everything that has been going on within our school lately, I would also like to be here to say prayers for those who have been lost and to pray for our own safety. At this moment, I would like everyone to take a moment of silence to send your prayers to Nyx and those who have departed to the Otherworld before we start the circle," she told us all.
I was surprised at how silent it got. I mean, I knew some of us were still on the side of Light, but I expected others to scoff and talk through it. But no, everyone was silent for that moment and we continued on.
"Thank you, now," Zoey said and walked over to Damien, matches in hand, "let's begin. Air, you are the one who breathes life into our lungs and blow away the bad, please join us in this circle!" she called and I felt the breeze blow strongly through the circle. It was stronger than before, and proved that his affinity had grown stronger as well.
"Spirit of Air, please come forth with your physical representation to join your Son," I called out when Zo was done. Confusion was heard through the audience watching followed by gasps as the eagle cried and flew in on Damien's shoulder.
I smiled just a bit and we moved on to Shaunee and Fire. "Fire, you are the one who keeps us warm in every situation and burn the evils we may face, please join us in this circle!" And similar to Damien, the heat intensity was increased.
"Spirit of Fire, please come forth with your physical representation to join your Daughter!" And the tiger came forth, curling herself around Shaunee's legs.
"Water, you are our supporter of life and you wash away our impurities, please join us in this circle!"
"Spirit of Water, please come forth with your physical representation to join your Daughter!" The dolphin let out a few clicks in the pool that was created around Erin's feet.
"Earth, you are where each of us come from and the purest form, please join this circle"
"Spirit of Earth, please come forth with your physical representation to join your Daughter!" The deer bounded forward and stopped gracefully next to Stevie Rae. And then, it all went to hell.
"Dear Goddess do not let this abomination continue! These creatures coming forth are not right or in the Goddess's path! This is nothing but sheer Dark magic, do not let the circle be complete!" Neferet screeched suddenly and fell to her knees.
"What the hell is she doing?" I breathed as Zoey stood beside me.
"I don't know, but I don't like this," Zoey muttered and then I felt it. I felt the chill, that indicative chill and I groaned. I noticed one other person had a similar expression, and when I met Rephaim's eyes…I knew what was going on.
"My Goddess, everybody get down!" I screamed the same moment they burst out from the trees and behind the walls. Big, black masses squawked and shrieked, flying over everyone, the Raven Mockers were back.
"What the hell?" someone screamed, I wasn't even sure who, and I looked around as students started running everywhere, away from the beasts. Neferet was still on her knees, looking frightened, but I could see that glint in her eye. She did this, and we both knew it.
"We have to finish the circle!" Zoey told me, snapping me back to the task at hand.
But looking around, looking at the fighting breaking out, it couldn't and wouldn't be me to finish it. I had too much to give on the other side to the fight. "Not with me you're not. Aphrodite!" I shouted, catching her attention from behind Darius who was protecting her, "get your ass in this circle, you're taking my place!"
She bolted for the inside of the circle and stood next to me in a moment. I handed her the candle I was holding and she looked at me. "What are you going to do?"
"Go out there."
"You're nuts!"
I smirked a bit and nodded, "I know. Good luck, just make your way to the Hummer safely, I'll get there as soon as I can. If you wait for five minutes, leave without me, and that's an order." I was out of that circle in a moment, breaking through the magick that would hopefully hold out in protecting and snarling like a mad wolf. Well, because I was a mad wolf.
I leapt at the first one that came near me and tore at anything and everything I could grab on its body, I wanted it down. I felt the boost as Spirit was called and completed the circle and was thankful since I got the squirming Raven Mocker down with a bite to the neck and moved on.
It was complete and total chaos on the grounds, with screams and fighting sounds heard everywhere. I saw Dragon out hacking away at our attackers with two swords, Maggie and Gwen were side by side, fighting and punching like they were one step ahead. And with Gwen's telepathy, they very well could have been. Luke, Zane, and Harley were at three different places handling three different Raven Mockers and doing alright. Then around the circle were Stark, Darius, and Rephaim fending them off as well. Rephaim looked troubled, as these were his brothers, but I'm glad his duties to Stevie Rae won out in that aspect. There were others out there fighting too.
I just continued on like everyone else. Raven Mocker after Raven Mocker after Raven Mocker, that's all it was. I fought tooth and nail as did they, and I was going to be in much pain for a while. Half way through, I switched back over and just started tackling the Raven Mockers. It was winding down, I was getting sick, tired, and annoyed of everything that was going on, and that pissed off mood channeled better into vampyre than into wolf. When things finally settled down, probably a couple minutes later (thankfully it wasn't as long of a fight as it felt) I stood there and checked myself over. I was bleeding from cuts and I was bruised and banged up. There was nothing major, for which I was thankful.
Remembering my order, I took off toward the parking lot and managed to get there just in time. That was stopped, however, when I heard a scream.
"Oh my Goddess, Maggie!" I cried and turned back.
"You aren't going to go back there, are ya?" Stevie Rae asked.
I didn't respond right away. I looked back to notice a few black masses flying around and gulped. The black masses, what Aphrodite saw in her vision. "I have to," I determined.
"We'll wait for you then," Damien decided.
"No!" I cried, "no, they are still here! Do not, I repeat do not wait for me. I'm not going to let you risk your safety to wait for me," I ordered.
"But JC!"
"No buts Zoey!" I shouted, "I'm not going to put you all in danger, they're all still here. I have two Charges and two fledglings in there I'm going to protect with my life because that's what I do. You need to get the hell out of here as far away as physically possible, don't you dare wait for me!" I said and before anything else could say, ran off, back on campus.
"Maggie!" I screamed, trying to figure out where she was. I ignored the looks I was getting from some of the fledglings and ignored the Raven Mockers that took interest, all that mattered was Maggie and where she was.
I approached the girls' dorm and it was the exact description of Aphrodite's vision. She was running away from two Raven Mockers going after her. One of them swooped down and hit her low on the leg and back and she fell. That's when I shrieked and ran after them, tackling them the moment I could.
Both the Raven Mockers and I fell to the ground, away from Maggie luckily, and I skidded back to my feet, growling at them. They came after me and I charged back, punching, swinging, and snarling at them as we fought. One clawed at my legs and abdomen while the other went high, going for my chest in head. It was sort of unfair, especially since they got some good blows. Thankfully my adrenaline was up to extreme highs I was sure, so I didn't feel anything that they threw at me, just kept fighting and scratching until finally, they relented and backed off.
I heaved a sigh of relief before crouching down beside the girl. "Maggie, are you alright?" I asked.
"I'm alive, and that's what counts isn't it?" she asked and turned her head to look at me. "That was the vision, wasn't it? I should be dead right now."
I grimaced slightly because she was right and nodded. "But you aren't dead, which is good, really good," I said.
"Yeah, thank you," Maggie said, "I owe you my life, literally."
"Ok, let's talk about that later. You didn't exactly answer my question, are you alright?" I asked again, because I was worried. She went down and she went down hard.
"I heard a crack when the Raven Mocker ran into me…I think my leg's broken," she admitted and, looking at her right leg, I had to agree. It was bent in an awkward position and I think I could some bone sticking out of her skin.
"I would agree to that," I muttered and looked back to her, "we need to get you to the infirmary. Is your left leg good?" I asked, she nodded. "Okay, this may hurt, but I have to get you up and we both have to walk to the infirmary. You can lean on me though, it'll be alright."
"Ok, just get this over with," Maggie said and gently, we got her into a sitting position and then attempted to get her standing. With her finally up, Maggie leaned heavily on my shoulder, and that induced a sharp, fiery, shooting pain down my entire body.
I let out a strangled cry and collapsed to my knees, sending both of us down again. "Oof, JC, what is it?" Maggie asked worriedly, looking over to me.
"My shoulder," I choked out and looked at my left shoulder. Sure enough, there was a huge, gaping wound there, half of my shoulder was missing. Skin flapped down, blood was pooling out, some cloth was embedded in the wound, and I thought I saw muscle. I had to resist the urge to vomit. How had I not noticed this, or felt it or anything? "Damn it! One of those bastards caught me," I growled out through ground teeth. It hurt like a bitch.
"What do…oh, damn!" she exclaimed, seeing the wound too, "I guess we both need to get to the infirmary."
"We'll do this," I promised, "you'll just have to use my other shoulder. Just a switch up, nothing major," I decided and, after being extremely careful again, we managed to get each other up and Maggie was leaning on my other side.
We started hobbling back toward the infirmary. "Shouldn't you be gone with the rest of the group?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah, but you're alive, that's more important," I answered and sighed.
"Did they leave?"
"They did," I nodded.
"How are you going to get there then?" she asked.
I paused a moment and looked back. We made a pretty good distance already, and I could see the proof of the fighting that took place. Bodies and blood were on the ground, and it wasn't a pretty sight. This could have, and should have been prevented. And above it all, the full moon and stars shone bright. But clouds were moving in, and I couldn't help but feel it was a bad sign.
Bravery and wit, my Daughter, that is what you will need to survive this. Carry them with you and rely on them, and you will do great things.
I shook my head but smiled at the voice. Nyx's words were always comforting. "I don't know, Maggie, I don't know. We'll cross that bridge when we get there."
